HC asks DGP for report on burning of schools next week

Srinagar: The J&K High court on Wednesday pulled up the state police for its “highly unsatisfactory” investigation into the burning of schools in 2016 and directed the Director General of Police to file a fresh report after a week.
The court observed that only 2 percent of the investigation is complete, which speaks volumes of how the investigation agencies are working.
Hearing a PIL on the burning of schools during the 2016 unrest in the state, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey remarked that the state government had failed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Out of 49 FIRs registered by police, only four cases have been brought before court. Another four cases have been dismissed as accidental. With respect to the remaining 41 cases, we are informed that either they are under investigation or untraced. These events have taken almost one year ago and the progress in the cases is highly unsatisfactory,” the court said.
“Burning of schools is not only a crime against children but against society and especially against people of Kashmir. These cases have to be investigated on priority so that perpetrators can be brought to justice. So far, we find that the investigation process is going at a very slow pace or we can say it is negligible. The Director General of Police (DGP) is directed to expedite the investigation and status report be filed on 20 September, 2017,” the court said.
Meanwhile, the status report presented by Additional Advocate General BA Dar said that the upgrading of infrastructural facilities at various schools is almost done. The court directed that an updated status report be submitted on the next date of hearing.
On the previous hearing, Amicus Curie Syed Musaib had informed the court that classes of students were being operated in kitchens in Kulgam district, putting to risk children’s lives from gas cylinders. He also said that there were no sitting arrangements for primary and middle students and the classes were not being held regularly.
“Improper education leads to improper learning. It is the right of children to have the best of facilities and the government has to provide it,” Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed had said.

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